2 Tokyo Spa Employees Charged With Soliciting Sex

Two female employees of an exotic spa in Columbia were arrested Saturday after allegedly having sex with men who paid for an "Oriental shower and massage," county police said.

The women, Song Ae Westphal, 40, and Soon Hee Allender, 39, both of whom list their addresses asthe Tokyo Spa on Oakland Mills Road, were charged with soliciting a sexual act from the two male customers, said Lt. E. Lawrence Knutson,head of the county vice unit.

About 10 police officers raided the spa at 12:45 p.m. and found the two employees having sexual intercourse in private rooms with the two men, whom police did not identify, court charging papers said.

Police elected not to charge the men, who will be summoned to court to testify against the two women, Knutson said.

"They could have been arrested, but in the interests of the best possible prosecution of the two employees, they'll be converted to state's witnesses," Knutson said.

Police said they had recently received information that the spa, which employs seven women, has been involved in illicit sexual activity and prostitution.

Customers are admitted to the business after ringing a doorbell monitored by a closed-circuit video camera. The spa charged clients $40 for a half-hour of massage and $60 fora full hour, but customers were allowed to pay $100 and $150 for sexacts, Knutson said.

Police have sent information about the arrests and the alleged sexual activity at the business to the county Health Department and the Planning and Zoning Department. If zoning and health codes have been violated, the business could be forced to close.

In August, two gunmen robbed the spa after forcing the seven employees and three customers into a laundry room. Police became suspicious of the business when detectives arrived to find that the customershad hurriedly left the premises and appeared nervous about talking to police.

Knutson said the alleged sex business was adamant about requiring customers to wear condoms.